3 Queen Snakes
1 Racer
1 Rat snake
2 N watersnakes

1 Bullfrog
TMTC Peeper Tadpoles

4 Ambystoma Larvae

Saw this guy crossing the road and then ran though a field to catch up with him. 1st Racer I have seen in Allegheny Co. Can check this off my goals for the county.

Checked one of the Queen spots on the creek.

Went to the Pools to see how big some of the Larvae and Tadpoles were.

Spring Peeper Tadpoles

Ambysoma Larvae. Still unsure if these are spotted or jefferson’s.

Then while I was talking to this guy an his daughter and showing them a few Watersnakes a nice size Rat snake swam up.

May 23 – Allegheny County
Out with my daughter Kyra to let her see some seasonal pools and see what she could dip.
A few Ambystoma Larvae, A. Toad Tads, Wood Tads.
3 Queens
5+ N. Waters

Watersnakes

Queen Snakes

Kyra with Tadpole

Kyra looking to see what was in the net. (aquatic snails, tadpoles, fairly shrimp). She learned some about seasonal pool ecology.

May 25th- Allegheny County
3 queens
5 A. toads
1 Bull calling.

Queen Snakes

Scarlet Tanger

May 28 – Westmoreland County
Outing with friends Bob and Steve.
2 Ratsnakes
1 Watersnake
5+ Toads
3 Mtn. Dusky
1 Spring
1 yeariling snapper

Was starting to rain some and bob spotted this juvi. rat on the trail.

We were going to a rock formation that Steve told us about called and “Indian Postoffice” Not sure the correct term. A neat looking formation, it’s just a good thing we reached it before it started pouring rain for atleast on hour.

Indian Postoffice

Checking out Antlions (Bob and Steve)

Waiting out the rain. (Bob and Steve)

Myself

After it quite raining I noticed a nice rat in a bird box.

Along the trail in a little puddle. Snapper

Then a spring salamander I found in a small creek.

Another neat siting was this pileated woodpecker nest.

and a helgermite

May 30 – Somewhere, PA (no location disclosure)
Myself and Steve went to a spot to meet up with a few other friends for a little fun trip.

2 Saguas (1 female, 1 juvi)
4 Smooth Greens (I only saw the tail of on others were saw by other ppl no photo so im bummed)
1 A. Toad
4 Garters

Gartersnake

1st Sagua of the day – Female

Pit tag and tubing for scale counting. (done by biologist)

2nd sagua – Juvi.

Purple Martins

Totals to May 21
6 Queen Snakes
3 Garter Snakes
3 Watersnakes
3 Rat Snakes
1 Ringneck
4 Milksnakes
1 N. Racer

1 spring salamander
A few Mtn. Duskys and Twolineds

TMTC Bullfrogs, Green Frogs, A. Toads

Allegheny County
Ratsnake

Ringneck

Queen

Checking Seasonal Pools

Kyra Playing with Toads

Kyra with Box Turtle.

Westmoreland County

Mtn. Dusky

Twolined

Pickerel

A. Toad

Green

Garter


Washington County
Out with my friend Bob at one of his locations for milks. Not a bad day.

Racer – Pa Lifer for me.

Odd white Ventral?

Milksnakes in Pairs – 2 rocks flipped each with a M & F.

Bob and milks.

Myself

April 25th
few spotted salamander egg masses
tmtc A. toad eggs
5+ A. toads calling
1 N. water snake

April 26th
1 dor rat snake

April 30th
4 n waters snake
1 queen snake
few spring peepers calling
2 bullfrogs calling

May 01
4 queens snakes
10+ N. Waters snakes
2 A. Toads
TMTC A. Toad Tadpoles

1 E. Box Turtle

Queen Snake

E. Box Turtle

The Pennsylvania Herpetological Education and Resource Project – PAHERP (http://www.paherp.com), a new resource to the reptiles and amphibians within Pennsylvania. We have been working on the project for a while and are proud to be announcing it tothe public today.

“PAHERP offers a selection of resources dealing with amphibian and reptile species in Pennsylvania, games and activities for kids, and teacher resources. The site is focused on education, and includes an online database to encourage the public to submit records and help with conservation. Pennsylvania is home to an extraordinary diversity of amphibian and reptile species. Many of these species have either shown evidence of population decline or have life-history traits that make them susceptible to decline. There is a critical need for information on 36 amphibian and reptile species in Pennsylvania (Wildlife Action Plan priority species or species of conservation concern). Most of these species are sparsely distributed over large areas, making it difficult to accurately survey for their presence and abundance.
Read more »

Here are a few photos from the past few weeks of different outings in PA for the beginning of spring.

Totals:
2 Garter Snake
TMTC American Toads - 4 Choruses
1 Spring Peeper – Many Choruses
1 Wood Frog  - Many Calls
1 N. Leopard Frog Call
1 Green Frog Call
Many Ambystoma Salamander Egg Masses
2 Spotted Salamanders
TMTC  Northern Duskys Salamander
6 Mountain Duskys Salamander
14 Ravine Salamanders
1 Redback Salamander (lead)
1 Spring Salamander
2 Two-lined Salamander
7 Painted turtles
3 DOR snapper
And some Unided’s

First Garter of the year. Thanks to Bob’s gf. spotting it

Bob showing Kyra the Garter.

Plenty of Duskys:

Redback

Twolineds

Spring Salamander

Bob with his prize.

Kyra being Kyra.

Ambystoma Eggs

Ravine Salamander

Spring Peeper

American Toads

Hop over and check on the new  PA HERP ATLAS

Hi Everyone,
I’ve got some exciting news about the PA Online Herpetological Atlas. Jason Poston, a visual designer and frequent contributor to the atlas project, has done a terrific job at revamping the entire webpage. He’s also given it a much user friendly address at http://www.paherpatlas.org. Please check it out. You might also want to check out Jason’s herp identification website at http://www.paherps.com. There is still a lot of updating to do – I’m working on more user friendly maps, Jason has been working on some brochures, etc., so keep checking back. Please let us know what you think of the new website and send us your suggestions. You will find our e-mail address and a comment submission form under the Contact link.

Tim

Went down to SC for a week with my daughter to visit family and friends. I got to get out a few times and do some herping some by myself, with my dad and sister and with my friend Matt (happyherper). Most of the week was nice weather but twords the end it was a little to cool for herps but we did manage to find a few things here and there.

Jan 5
4 Marbled Sallys
2 Slimys (atlantic probably)
2 Dwarf Waterdogs
1 S Ringneck
1 Pine Tree Frog?

The start of the day I went out a while by  myself then meet up with Matt at a local spot to walk around while while Kyra and my Mom played at the park. I think the big success of the day was Matt flipping the ringneck . First snake of the year.

The morning:
Marbleds

Slimy

Pine Tree Frog

Out with Matt:
Slimy

S. Ringneck

Kyra with a waterdog:

Jan 6
2 unided tadpoles
1 Spotted Turtle
Jan 7
2 Adult Marbleds
4 Marbled Larvae
4 Eurycea Larvae (possible two-lined or three-lined)
5+ Unided tadpoles (1 possible Bullfrog)

Went out with my dad and sister to the creek for a few mins to see what we could find.

Marbleds

Eurycea Larvae

Unknown tadpoles 1

Unknown Tadpoles 2

Jan 8
5+ Yellow Bellied Sliders
1 Anole

At the zoo with my mom and kyra

Jan 9
1 Eurycea larvae
1 Dwarf Waterdog
10+ Anoles

Meet back up with Matt for a little morning outing. Was a little to cold the night before so the day was not as productive as we would have liked but we still going something, and on the way home I found a few more anoles out sunning by a swamp.

Eurycea larvae

Dwarf Waterdog

Anoles